Words from San & Jack

As previously mentioned, many are "blog challenged" and I offered to help post messages for those who've had problems publishing to this blog. This is from San and Jack, Mary Ann's parents and Annie's grandparents.

John,

On February 15, May the Austin skies be a beautiful Texas blue. May the wind be at your back. May the hands of God hold you up throughout the race. Our family is so blessed by your dedication to Annie's education. Thank you.

love ~ Aunt San & Uncle Jack

Wonderful Article!

What a great article in your hometown paper! Can you believe donations have doubled since the newspaper interviewed you just a few weeks ago? AWESOME! It is heartwarming that so many wonderful people have reached out to the Sherlock family. Thanks to each and everyone of you.

Link to Article on the Marathon / Donations at $12.8k / 82 donors

We got some press from the local Chagrin Sun newspaper.

http://blog.cleveland.com/chagrinheraldsun/2009/01/chagrin_falls_progressive_insu.html

John

Donations up to nearly $12k

With a little over two weeks left we are just shy of $12k.  The local Chagrin paper did run the article on Annie. Once I get the link, I will post it and send it around.  Some nice pics of Mary Ann and Annie.

Thanks for the continued support!  John

She says it ALL!!

For whatever reason, posting on the blog has become more than a challenge. It appears to be no longer user friendly ~ it's those crazy letters you have to uncode. Glad I got on when I did. I just can't let this email from sister Jean, another of Annie's great-aunts go unposted. She says it all. I want all of you who have so generously donated to this fabulous event to read what Jean so eloquently says ~ I quote:

Blog challenge - if so..you are not alone~ and I understand some of the "young" ones even are- be not ashamed- perhaps maybe not all of our computers are compatible with the runforannieblog~ or some of us just don't know how to key it in~~WHATEVER- so why not revert back to the old standby e-mail.. if we would like to "publicly to the family" .. express our appreciation, awe and gratitude to the wonderful John and Kelly Curtiss~ for their brilliance in the concept, the perserverance in the gathering of funds and race training~ the arduous trial runs, the battling of the elements, the icy baths, the inevitable sour muscles and fatigue~ and that we are PROUD to know you, proud to have you in our family, and proud of your accomplishments thus far. Our hope is that when you arrive in Austin you feel you have the strength of the Hulk, the wind at your back, "fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee"~ (think that last part was from Casius Clay; obviuosly after too many whacks to the head.) ~ anywhoo~~ we will be "with you" (mentally,emotionally, etc!) every step of the way during your 26 mile trek ~~
YOU ROCK JOHN CURTISS .. YOU de mannn~~ Love and thanks to John and Kelly for all~~~
this was waaay easier than fighting the blog entry!! love to all.. xo

...

Ice bath on top of a 26-mile run. What a day!! John & Kelly, this was quite a project you all undertook & you have been generous with your time & energy. Viewing the blog & experiencing the love & support is an awesome feeling. It'll be a great day in Austin with you running & Kelly & Annie's family on the sidelines.

Donations at $11.5k

We continue to receive donations which is wonderful.  Three weeks to go!

Thanks to everyone who has participated and to those who are posting to the blog!

We are glad it is your body, not ours, that is running 26 miles in the middle of a Cleveland winter and then being subjected to an ice bath. Given the choice, we would probably choose waterboarding. Regardless, we are impressed with your fund raising idea and the perseverance that has made it a reality.
We wish you the best,
Rose and John

Ice Bath??

John, are you a glutton for punishment or what? An ice bath ~ sounds more like torture! Now a good deep tissue or hot stone massage ~ that would soothe my aching muscles. From what Lila says, you'll need an ice bath after running in the warmer Austin temperature. Seriously, I can't say it enough, what you are doing for Annie, Mary Ann and Craig is wonderful. Your dedication to this project is awesome and because of that, you've exceeded your goal. All of us thank you.

Time to Taper

I got my final long training run done on Friday.   A full 26 miles.  It was a great day....high 30s and sunny.  A little sore afterwards.  Actually took an ice bath - I felt great afterwards, but it is definitely challenging to initially get in.  My whole lower body is covered in freezing cold water and then ice is added.  Supposedly helps prevent lactic acid build up.

Three weeks to the race and counting. I think we are now close to $11k.  

Kelly and I are really looking forward to seeing everyone in Austin - it will be special for everyone.

Enjoy the weekend!

geat job John!!

John, you have done a fantastic job for Annie and her family. First you came up with a terrific idea and now you have already exceeded your goal and I am sure more donations are on the way. It does not surpise me that you have lead this tremendous effort allowing all of us to contribute to this wonderful cause. The possitve traits you have shown as a father, husband and nephew-in-law makes it obvious that you are the right person for this challenging task. You and Kelly make a great team. After training in your "snow shoes" Austin should be a piece of cake!

How Do You Do It....

John? What do you wear to run in two feet of snow and still snowing? Do you have ice grippers or what on your shoes!? We'll keep our fingers crossed for beautiful weather and a perfect temperature on race day. What is an ideal temperature to run 26 miles? Following your training, including the Wii (I've tried the tennis and that's a challenge, mostly because I kept thinking I'd hit Jake in the head), updates on donations, etc. has been fun to follow ~ so exciting. Thanks for keeping us informed. Do wish Jack and I could be there.

Donations up to $10,700

Donations keep coming in which is very exciting.  We have surpassed the goal and hope to continue momentum for the next month until race day.

Race day is 4 Sundays from today.

Two feet of snow and below 0 temps have forced me indoors.  Schools were actually closed on Friday b/c it was so cold.  I shared the age old stories of walking up hill both ways to school when I was a child with Garrett and Courtney......they did not buy it.  More snow today, but I hope to get my run in this afternoon.

Race weekend is shaping up nicely.  Kelly and I will be leaving on 2/12 (Thursday for Austin).  Kelly is picking out Mexican food for Thursday.  We will then join the Sherlocks and Owens on Friday for dinner.  Thanks Lila.  Saturday we will likely visit with family and I will start to prepare to run on Sunday.  There will be a focused cheering section (Owens family, Kelly, Sherlocks and the Wests)  which will be GREAT!

This has been a very special experience for me and thank you for you generosity and contributions!!!

Stay warm,

John

No Words Can Express...

...the gratitude and love that Mary Ann and I feel for each of you wonderful donors. It's really overwhelming. This whole project started with John Curtiss' incredible idea, and none of us would be here without the entire Curtiss family. That said, the rest of you, our incredible family and friends, have taken this thing to an entirely different level. Might I say that you've "run with it"? Sorry. I'm the king of dumb jokes. Just ask Mary Ann.

We are indebted not only for your generous donations to Annie's future, but also your kind, healing letters and emails. I know Mary Ann regrets that she hasn't been able to respond to you as quickly as she would like sometimes, but hopes you understand. She's strong, but tired. Keeping up with Annie and enduring treatments is exhausting business. (Not to mention putting up with me!)

I guess about the best thing I can say to all of you is THANK YOU. We are stronger, better people because of you. We hope to see you all real soon...

Much Love,
Craig and Mary Ann

Congrats!!

Wow! Congrats on making your goal and giving this loving gift to Annie. With four weeks to go, I'm sure you'll surpass the original $10,000 goal. I know you're getting psyched as the big race day approaches. Don't know how you train in the cold frozen north of Chagrin Falls, but keep up the good work. Thanks for adding Annie's Christmas picture.

We hit $10,000!

Last night, we hit our inital goal of $10k for Annie's 529 Plan. Jay Garrett's donation put us over the top. Thank you to everyone who has contributed thus far. The list is getting long.

We are roughly 4 wks from race day and I will keep working to obtain donations.

This is very exciting!

Feel the love

Wonderful your blog's & marathon's goals are being acheived. You can feel the love & support for Annie, Mary Ann & family. Please share the reporter's story when published. 2 feet of snow -wow!

Very exciting day!

Over the weekend, we have received several donations.  Annie's fund is now at $9,700 and it continues to grow!  

Five weeks left to the marathon.  No running this weekend....blizzards and two feet of snow.  Kelly was out of town, so the kids and I did Wii Fit.  Very fun!

A local newspaper picked up the Blog via Google Alerts.  A reporter stopped by to interview on Friday.  Hopefully we will get published towards the end of the month.

Thanks again for all the help and support.  The Sherlock's are extremely grateful!

Stay warm.

Doing Good John

Congrats John! More than halfway to your goal with 5 1/2 weeks to go. You'll get there. I too want to thank everyone for the donations you have so generously given. The love and support means so much to all of us, Mary Ann's extended family.

Hope the weather cooperates for you next long run and all the training in between. I'm especially glad Kelly is going with you to Austin ~ you'll love to see her smiling face as you cross that finish line. Let's pray Mary Ann gets a good report and can celebrate with you all. It will be a beautiful day.

Update - half way to goal!

Great news.....total donations have surpassed the $5,000 mark. We are half way to our goal for Craig and Mary Ann. Thanks for all the support and donations.

Quick update on the training front....I got a 23 mile run in on Sunday. It was cool (32 degrees) but not precipitation. Only 1 long run left before the big day on the 15th.

Logistics - Kelly and I are headed down to Austin on Thursday the 12th of Feb. We hope to see MA and Craig once they get back from MD Anderson that day. Praying for good test results. I am going to find a chip that I can wear on my shoe that will let people track my progress during the run.

Thanks again for all the support! John

Donations surpasss $4,000

Happy New Year everyone!  Hope everyone had a great time last night.  Total donations are now up to  $4,208.  Thanks for all the continued support.

I have another long run coming up......I am getting psyched up.

John